NATO Commander says Russia has changed paradigm in Europe

Friday, June 06, 2014 - 01:45

June 5 - NATO Commander General Phillip Breedlove says Russia is no longer a partner, and that NATO's decisions about force size, and placement will be made with that change in mind. Deborah Gembara reports.

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NATO's top military commander says the world must adjust to a major paradigm change with Russia.
SOUNDBITE: GENERAL PHILLIP BREEDLOVE, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE (SACEUR) OF NATO ALLIED COMMAND OPERATIONS SAYING:
"For the past ten to twelve years, we have been looking at Russia as a partner and we have been making force decision, force size decisions, placement decisions all based on the fact that Russia was a partner. Across the last two months, it's been very clear that they have not been acting like a partner and now we have to re-evaluate."
The evidence, says Breedlove, is impossible to ignore.
SOUNDBITE: GENERAL PHILLIP BREEDLOVE, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE (SACEUR) OF NATO ALLIED COMMAND OPERATIONS SAYING:
"What does it mean that we have seen a nation amass this incredible force on a border, cross an internationally recognized border and forcibly annex part of a sovereign nation? That changes the paradigm in Europe and we at NATO are going to have to address the changed paradigm."
His message came on the same day, U.S. President Barack Obama met with G7 leaders without Moscow.
Russia was far from forgotten.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:
"Russia needs to recognize that President-elect Poroshenko is the legitimately elected leader of Ukraine and engage the government in Kiev. Given his influence over the militants in Ukraine, Russia continues to have a responsibility to convince them to end their violence, lay down their weapons and enter into a dialogue with the Ukrainian government."
While the U.S. has been very vocal in its discussions of sanctions on Russia with its G7 counterparts, it is also conducting naval drills in the Black Sea with military allies.

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